ICE consists of three directorates to accomplish the agency’s mission, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Management and Administration (M&A).

ICE executes its mission through the enforcement of more than 400 federal statutes, and focuses on smart immigration enforcement, preventing terrorism and combating the illegal movement of people and trade. (read more)

Learn more about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including facts about investigations, immigration enforcement and removal operations, and management and administration information. (read more)

To ensure openness and transparency and to better serve those seeking more information about ICE and its operations, the agency centralized processing of all ICE-related Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in a single office.

Office of Public Affairs (OPA)

The ICE Office of Public Affairs (OPA) is the agency's public face, dedicated to communicating and fostering an understanding of the agency's mission through outreach to employees, the media and the general public. OPA also oversees the agency's internal communication needs, offering a wide range of products to employees through a variety of mediums.

OPA is the agency's public face, a team of communications professionals dedicated to telling the story of ICE and fostering an understanding of the agency's mission through outreach to employees, the media and the general public.

OPA strives at all times to maintain transparency, consistency, accuracy and credibility in the agency’s communication efforts. Effective and reliable communication to both external and internal audiences is integral to supporting the agency’s enforcement efforts and directly affects the agency’s reputation and the morale of ICE employees.

OPA also oversees the agency's internal communication needs, offering a wide range of multimedia products to agency employees through a variety of publications and media channels. In addition, OPA administers the agency’s key online properties, including ICE.gov and the agency’s Intranet.

ICE OPA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. ICE field public affairs officers, located throughout the country, are responsible for regional media relations in designated geographic areas.

Mission

OPA builds understanding and support for the agency's mission through outreach to DHS employees, the media and the general public. With a strong commitment to transparency and candor, OPA strives at all times to maintain transparency, consistency, accuracy and credibility in the agency’s communication efforts.

Pedro Ribeiro

Assistant Director, Office of Public Affairs

Pedro Ribeiro is assistant director of the Office of Public Affairs (OPA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Washington, D.C.

Mr. Ribeiro is responsible for ICE's internal and external communications in support of the agency's mission. He oversees and administers a team of communications professionals who handle press inquiries, develop and distribute news releases, provide writing services, administer the ICE website and 2.0 web applications, and create and produce multimedia content.

Mr. Ribeiro previously served as the Director of the Office of Communications in the Executive Office of the Mayor in the District of Columbia. In that role he served as the senior on-the-record spokesperson for the Government of the District of Columbia and coordinated all of the District's public and employee outreach efforts. He also managed the district's Joint Information Center, and was responsible for coordinating and planning the District's public information response in emergency, disaster and special event situations. He led the District's public response to Hurricane Sandy, the "Derecho" storm, the Navy Yard Shooting and the second Inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Prior to his service in the District government, he served as deputy chief of staff and communications director to Representative Zoe Lofgren of California during her tenure as chair of the House Ethics Committee and Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. He also served as press secretary to Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas.

Before working on the Hill, Mr. Ribeiro served in several capacities in the non-profit and think-tank community. He is a graduate of the Catholic University of America, and resides in the District of Columbia with his wife and daughter.